3 injured in Willis house explosion

Updated 1:27 pm, Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County. The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County. The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty / Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Debris is seen in a tree after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Debris is seen in a tree after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Investigators work a scene after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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A truck is seen in the driveway of a home that exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

A truck is seen in the driveway of a home that exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Debris is seen in a tree after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their injuries were not released, but they were in critical condition, said Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1. Oliphant said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion, and it was unclear what sparked the blast. less

Debris is seen in a tree after a home exploded, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis, Texas. Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Details of their ... more

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Investigators work the scene of an explosion, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis.

Investigators work the scene of an explosion, Tuesday, July 22, 2014, in Willis.

Photo: Cody Duty, Houston Chronicle

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Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 12 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 13 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 14 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 15 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 16 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 17 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

Image 18 of 20

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office. less

Three people were seriously injured when a house exploded early Tuesday morning in north Montgomery County.
The incident happened about 5 a.m. on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the ... more

Photo: Cody Duty/Houston Chronicle

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Willis-area firefighters found a single-story structure destroyed about 5 a.m. Tuesday, and flew three adults to a hospital in Houston.

Willis-area firefighters found a single-story structure destroyed about 5 a.m. Tuesday, and flew three adults to a hospital in Houston.

Photo: Scott Engle / Montgomery County Police Reporter

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3 injured in Willis house explosion

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Neighbors described an eerie scene of destruction Tuesday after three people were seriously injured when a house exploded in north Montgomery County.

The incident happened about 5 a.m. at the three-bedroom, wood-frame home on Mandy Lane near Rogers in the Willis area, according to the Montgomery Fire Marshal's Office.

Three adults were flown by LifeFlight medical helicopter to Memorial Hermann-The Texas Medical Center. Memorial Hermann spokeswoman Kathryn Klein said late Tuesday morning that one patient was in critical condition, one patient was in serious condition, and the third was in fair condition.

Jason Oliphant, chief of Montgomery County Emergency Services District No. 1, said the home was totally destroyed and small fires burned after the explosion. He said it was unclear what sparked the blast.

Neighbors heard and felt the force of the massive blast. They said the explosion blew in doors, knocked pictures from the walls and shattered windows. One man, who asked not to be identified, said two ceilings in rooms fell down at his house across the street. The front window was blown out and tools hanging on the wall in his work shop were thrown to the floor.

"It was a huge explosion," said Faviola Gallaga, another neighbor who lives a few doors down from where the powerful blast erupted. "The whole house just shook. It shook your whole body."

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Joseph Turner, 18, said he didn't know what happened when the blast shook his home. He grabbed his shotgun out of fear and rushed outside. There, he said, he joined other stunned neighbors as they helped two of the victims, a man and his wife, crawl from the burning debris. The couple was burned and dazed, Turner said. A relative of the couple was staying in the home and was found pacing nearby in the street, confused and barely able to come to grips with what had happened. They all wore pajamas and appeared to have been asleep at the time of the blast.

The neighbors helped the injured woman sit in a chair, which was one of the few things from the house that was left whole.

"She was barely able to talk," Turner said. "She was just saying she couldn't find her husband."

One of the couple's seven dogs died, another is missing and the other five are not injured. Neighbors are caring for the dogs.

Neighbors said that an awful smell hung in the air right after the explosion. Tiny bits of white insulation and ash floated down in the pre-dawn sky like snow. Larger pieces hung in the trees. Wood and other debris was scattered 600 feet around the home.

"Thank God they're all three alive," Turner said. "If you didn't believe in God, you would now because I don't believe anyone could survive this."

Investigators are trying to determine what led to the explsion, said Nicole Strong, an ATF spokesman. Strong said the family used propane, which was piped into the home from a 250-gallon tank in the backyard. The tank is intact.

Last June, two women died and an 8-month-old boy was critically injured in a blast at a home in Dobbin in west Montgomery County. The boy's grandmother, 58-year-old Jennifer Mock and her sister, 65-year-old Lena Mock Knight, died. The boy was later released from the hospital. He had burns over 54 percent of his body.

Investigators said at the time that they believe the 2013 Dobbin blast was the result of a build-up of flammable gases in or around the home. Liquefied petroleum gas was in use at the house, they said.